Written. (JB//Complete)

Chapter 18.

Scarlett

      I take a seat at one of the empty lunch tables out at the mostly vacated patio. I can finally eat my lunch, and read, in peace (since I'm not allowed to eat in the library). I pull out Little Women and begin reading where I left off-already almost finished with the book. While reading, I've found quite a bit of similarities between the main character, Jo, and I. She tames her tomboyish ways and has to learn to be more ladylike while pursuing her ambition to become a great writer. Since her and her three sisters' parents are off to the civil war, they have to face each of their own personal demons and struggles.

Seems like my demon is Justin.

And Jo also comes across a man, Laurie, that reveals his love for her, but she declares that she cannot care for him in the same way.

Justin hasn't fallen in love with me, nor will he ever, but he keeps finding ways to come back to me when I specifically tell him not to. So Jo and Laurie, and Justin and I have some connections here and there. That's why I love this book.

Popping off the lid to the container holding today's salad, I see Ryan approaching my table.

"Hey," I smile.

"Hey," he returns the gesture. He slides onto the bench next to me. "What are you reading?"

"Oh, uh, it's called Little Women. I got it a couple days ago." I hand him the book and he reads the back.

"Seems interesting."

"Yeah, I'm almost finished with it so I'll have to stop by the bookstore again later."

He nods his head and hands the book back and we sit in silence for a moment, taking bites of my salad.

"So, are you going to go with the plan?" he asks. Not this subject again.

"Oh, this was an actual plan?" I laugh in disbelief.

"Come on, Scar. You have to at least try."

Yeah, try embarrassing myself in front of Justin? Try doing something I pleaded for him not to do, when I'd be doing it?

"Ryan, I already told you that I don't want to see him again. I basically begged for him to stay away from me, so it wouldn't make any sense for me to flirt with him."

"Do you want to get your journal back, or not?" Ryan persuades.

I sigh, biting my lip and looking around, thinking of what to say.

"Yes." His smile lightens. "But, I think I'm just going to wait it out."

"What? No, come on. What if he forgets about it or something?" Ryan says.

"Hey, you're the one who doesn't want him being around me either, remember?"

That got him thinking. He closes his mouth, then opens it again.

"Look, I'm just doing this for you. I don't want you to go near him anymore after this one little thing." There's my father-like Ryan.

"Okay."

He jumps up. "So you're actually going to do it?"

"No," I laugh.

"What?"

"I'll think about it," I promise.

He smiles and gets up. "Great, I'll see you after school."

With that, he walks away, probably to his locker to gather his things for his next period, Math AP. Unfortunately, that's one of the few classes we don't share.